EUROPEAN human rights judges were attacked by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling yesterday for their latest challenge to Britain’s ban on allowing prisoners to vote.

Justice Chris Grayling has said there is no justification for reopening the prisoner's vote case [GETTY]

For now, there seems to be no justification for them taking any further action

Chris Grayling

Tory Mr Grayling said the European Court Of Human Rights had “no justification” when earlier this month it reopened more than 2,000 claims by UK inmates for cash compensation for being denied the vote.

The court, run by the 47-country Council Of Europe, previously signalled that it would halt consideration of the claims pending a decision in Parliament on prisoner votes.

The Government has responded by offering draft legislation giving a choice between keeping the existing blanket ban or allowing the vote to prisoners serving less than either six months or four years.

But the Commons is thought likely to maintain its backing for the current system.

Mr Grayling told MPs and peers considering the draft Bill that the Government had told the court of its concern over reopening the compensation cases.

He said: “We have a measure before Parliament which gives Parliament a clear choice to accept the [court] ruling. We have, in my view, fulfilled our obligation under the ruling of the court to bring forward legislation.

“For now, there seems to be no justification for them taking any further action.”

Mr Grayling insisted Britain should not be bracketed “with the bad guys of Europe” on human rights if it defied the court.

He insisted Britain’s history of respecting human rights should force others to question why it was taking a stand.

He said: “Do I believe the current structure is fit for purpose? I have very serious doubts.” And he claimed that the court had strayed “too far away from the original intentions of its creators to be acceptable”.

He also indicated the Prime Minister could find a way of letting ministers vote for keeping the ban, despite rules prohibiting them from advocating a breach of the law.

Mr Grayling further stated the European Court had strayed far away from its original intentions [GETTY]